Mean Girls - Review 2024

 

The musical adaptation of Mean Girls seems to have found its stride, surpassing the original movie in certain aspects, especially with Angourie Rice stepping into Lindsay Lohan's former role. The evolution of high school comedies, transitioning from film to stage musical to a cinematic rendition of the musical, mirrors the trajectories of Hairspray, The Producers, and The Color Purple.

My initial dissent towards the 2004 original stemmed from a comparison with Clueless, Election, and 10 Things I Hate About You, criticizing Mean Girls for its perceived shortcomings in addressing prettiness-fascism. However, perhaps I overlooked the individually funny lines and Tina Fey's screenwriting prowess, considering her later success with the TV series 30 Rock. In retrospect, Fey adeptly explores the perennial Mean Girls themes of reconciling success with kindness.

The Broadway adaptation of Mean Girls proved to be an enhancement, injecting humor and histrionics into the narrative. The musical genre, with its explicit exploration of the "diva" theme, breathes new life into the story. The movie version follows suit, delivering on the heightened entertainment, albeit faltering in the overextended third act.

Angourie Rice assumes the role once inhabited by Lindsay Lohan, portraying the sweet and unworldly teen Cady, navigating the intricacies of a U.S. high school after being homeschooled in Kenya. Fey reprises her role as the math teacher Ms. Norbury, while Jon Hamm adds a humorous touch as a sports coach slash sexual relations counselor.

The narrative unfolds with Cady being guided through the high school landscape by the alienated and cynical Damian (Jaquel Spivey) and Janis (Auli’i Cravalho), who also serve as the choric narrators. The film presents the various in-crowds and power dynamics, with the plastics, led by the capriciously cruel Regina (now played by Renée Rapp), reigning supreme. The storyline follows Cady's infiltration into this mean girl's clique, raising questions about her true desires.

While the film delivers plenty of laughs and enjoyable moments, certain aspects feel strained, such as the framing of Ms. Norbury as a drug-pusher, lacking the comedic payoff. The resolution and Cady's life lessons take a while to unfold, but the movie compensates with sugar-rush musical numbers and effective delivery of classic gags. Overall, Mean Girls in its musical format proves to be a worthy successor, embracing the humor and spirit of the original while adding a theatrical flair.